The Michigan Senate has approved $56.6 billion budget plan that would provide the biggest increase in base aid for lower-funded school districts in a dozen years while slightly trimming a main fund that covers other state spending, largely due to a projected drop in public assistance caseloads.
The move Thursday sets the stage for further talks more than a week after the House OK'd its own plan. Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican-led Legislature will work to finalize the next budget in June.
The Senate plan includes a $230 per-pupil increase for school districts that get the minimum grant. Higher-funded districts would get $115 more per student.
The Senate unanimously passed many spending bills but split largely on party lines over measures related to roads, schools, environmental protection and prisons.
